Labor MPs in lockdown over Yacht building plan

Following my report this morning where I released details about Labor's plan to move the Cairns Yacht Club building, the region's Labor MPs are not talking.

Three 'traditional' media outlets have now telephoned me, asking what's going on. "We talked to Wettenhall's office, but they won't tell us a thing," said one TV reporter.

This is indicative of how the entire issue surrounding the Yacht Club building's retention is being mis-handling from the State government. The process has never been open nor transparent. There has been no public consultation or input allowed. The Port Authority has also treated the local Cairns community with contempt of the Yacht Club building.

“The Cairns Yacht Club building should never have had to move! It’s as simple as that!” said Wendy Richardson, who has been coordinating a group called People Against Demolishing the Yacht Club.

She said that Steve Wettenhall's claim a new location will please many people is an insult to the citizens of Cairns. "It's another demonstration of the serious lack of vision this state government has when faced with a choice of immediate dollars or plans for the future,” Richardson says.

“One of the most disturbing features of this whole saga has been the fear that the Yacht Club membership and other influential people in the community have expressed about talking openly on the issue. They have seriously feared reprisals from either the State Government or the Port Authority if they said how they really felt,” says Richardson.

People involved in the PADYC campaign have been told that there have been threats of intimidation if they speak out. "We don’t agree with what’s happening, but we are funded by the State Government/have employment through the Port Authority and can’t be seen to go against them.’

Richardson says that this is a serious erosion of democracy, and the end result is a smug government who know they have bought silence and compliance.

“The 88 year old Cairns Yacht Club building, which was probably rebuilt from the original one of 103 years vintage, has also been much maligned due to its current dilapidated exterior and corroded 1960’s style verandah," she says. "Surely it does not take too much to imagine the renovated end product, especially if one takes a look at retired architect, Bob Cleland’s plans for such a renovation. These plans have been shown to the community for several years now.”

PADYC believe the building could provide a vital piece of heritage tourism, much needed in our city. They have proposed a community board running the overall operation, similar to Cominos House in Greenslopes Street. It could include a commercial operator running the restaurant and bar with a coffee shop added, a dance hall section, and cultural uses from indigenous performances to ballroom dancing. There would also be opportunities to incorporate multimedia displays for tourists and locals.

“Once relocated, it is hard to see how the building can provide this heritage tourism opportunity that would have brought us economic value and the ‘soul’ that heritage locations give a community.”

Wendy Richardson says that the lost potential from removing the building means replacement. "It means replacing a facility for everyone with a privately owned residential block. Nothing of great importance, especially since there are to be many more built in the same Cityport area”, says Richardson. “Taking the Yacht Club away leaves a gap to be filled and no-one I’ve spoken to wants highrise there.”

“On top of all this, the most serious question of all that needs to be asked is Why? Why is this small piece of land so vital to the Port Authority? Why is there such a feverish, hysterical response from both the Port Authority and the State Government absolutely insisting that the building must go? Who have they promised it to?”

The community have not been involved nor engaged in this debate that has raged now for around four years. You would think, showing the enormous amount of community interest, that the Government would, at the very least, engage and ask what they think, should they insist on a relocation plan.

Wendy Richardson says that one day we will find out the answers about who the building and the land is promised to. "By the time we find out what was behind all this, the building and the site will be handed over.”

She asks for the wider community of Cairns to not give in. "Do not be conned into thinking something wonderful is being done here. Certainly relocation is better than demolition, but neither should have been on the cards.”

“Whatever our Labor members have in mind for the building, it is not what most of us wanted. 11,000 people have said so via the petition, with many more agreeing via polls and letters to the Editor. The government should have used the money they now have on offer to renovate the building for us all, and remain where it is."

The State Government should be ashamed to call themselves representatives. The irony of today's news is pathetic and insulting. Tonight the Deputy Premier will be in Cairns to launch a series of public forums asking the community what they want there region to look like. Their Toward Q2 - Tomorrow's Queensland plan is aimed to placate people and show a united consultative government. However, we know otherwise.

Actions speak louder than words. This community will now be taking action.